Creaney was transferred to Portsmouth in January 1994, going on to score 30 goals in just over 60 matches and earning a £1.5m-valued move to Manchester City eighteen months later, with City paying £500,000 and £1million-rated Paul Walsh moving to Fratton Park in exchange.[4]

The move gave Creaney an opportunity to play Premier League football (which Portsmouth had failed to come anywhere near in spite of Creaney's fine form in Division One) where, despite scoring on his debut, he failed to prosper, scoring only four goals in his 21 City appearances. Later in the season he faced competition for the role as Uwe Rosler's strike partner from new arrival Nigel Clough, who was similarly disappointing.

After retiring from playing football, Creaney became a qualified accountant.[7] In January 2010 Creaney returned to football when he was named as assistant to manager Danny Drew at Bellshill Athletic.[8] On 12 October 2010, Creaney become manager at Bellshill Athletic after Danny Drew resigned. He was appointed head of youth development at Dundee in October 2014.[7]